L-Dopa

[ryanchan]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone had experience with L-Dopa and whether its good or bad for peyronies. L-Dopa is a precursor to dopamine not a receptor inhibitor.

I want to start taking it to help improve my focus at work.

I read that dopamine increase helps with ED. Does that mean better blood flow to the penis or just locking in and pressurizing the penis?

Thank you

[james1947]

Just scarred reading the possible side effects. Also I didn't find any mentioning of help with ED:
L-DOPA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Levodopa Side Effects in Detail - Drugs.com

James

[ryanchan]

Hello James,

The following research shows that an increase of dopamine increases sexual function

Effects of levodopa on nocturnal penile tumescence: a preliminary s... - PubMed - NCBI

Dopamine and male sexual function. - PubMed - NCBI

Natural Dopamine Increasers

Known L-Dopa Side Effects – Is It Safe or Dangerous?

It is important to note, that the side effects are often associated with pharmaceutical grade levodopa which is a cocktail of other chemicals to supercharge the effects.  It can take 10 times more of the herbal supplement to match a single dose of the prescription based form.  

[james1947]

Still I am scarred by the side effects.
I don't say you should not take it, myself will not.

James

[NeoV]

Primary risks would appear to be dyskinesia, and the other being a downregulation of your dopamine receptors.  Most people on other forums seem to say they would avoid it.

"DA and DOPA quinones may irreversibly alter protein function through the formation of 5-cysteinyl-catechols on the proteins" - From a study on neutoxicity in Parkinson's patients.
(Dopamine- or L-DOPA-induced neurotoxicity: the role of dopamine qui... - PubMed - NCBI)

But,

From examine,  

"Major concern associated with L-DOPA, but appears to pretty much only be relevant to those suffering from Parkinson's Disease or similar neurodegeneration. Most likely not a concern for healthy persons using L-DOPA in moderation"

The big question is whether or not taking L-dopa will cause some kind of down regulation, to either make it ineffective or damaging in some irreversible way. Somehow I would predict the former, but who knows.

The effect on penile girth seems to come from L-Dopa increasing testosterone. My personal thoughts are that if you want to increase dopamine and testosterone you should do it a different way. Things like porn usage, TV, internet use, all cause your dopamine receptors to weaken, cut out that kind of crap before you try to add more from an outside source.

My comments here are highly unscientific of course, and I am never ready to rule something out 100%.

Thanks for bringing it up!